By Marie-Therese Nanlong

To step up the efforts in child protection in Plateau State, the SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria, has given the Child Protection Network, CPN, the sum of N25m to support the efforts of responding to child protection-related cases and make the State a safer place for children.

The organization also gifted 13 women groups the sum of N20m each through its Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) initiative to expand economic opportunities for women, strengthen family bonds, and enable the women to cater to their children.

The Country Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Eghosa Erhumwunse, who handed over the cheques in the two separate events held in Jos on Monday, said the gesture is a consolidation of efforts, a commitment to further protect children and young people in the State.

His words, “We have signed an MoU with Child Protection Network in Plateau State to support the efforts of preventing, reporting, and responding to child protection related cases and make Plateau State a safer place for children and young people. We know child protection is everybody’s business. What is unique about this partnership is the role that CPN plays, being that it is locally grounded and knows Plateau more than any one of us.

“They understand the culture. They know how to quickly amplify cases of child abuse and follow them up until the necessary action is taken to protect and further prevent child abuse-related cases. So in the next couple of weeks, you’ll see the renewed motivation for them to go out there to support children and young people, their families, and communities so that we have a reduction in the incidence of child abuse in Plateau State.”

On the grants to the women groups, he stated, “These women are our partners, mothers, caregivers, who are working to support their children. It is every parent’s responsibility to take care of their child, but we have a lot of challenges and economic problems. Whilst recognizing that children are the utmost reason why we are doing what we are doing, we also know that without economic strength, the caregivers can not do much.

“We started with seven VSLAs in 2022, and today they are 13. We are giving them a grant donation of N20 million each; they will use it to grow their businesses and be able to make profits to take care of their children. The major thrust is to empower caregivers, the women. I encourage everyone to keep supporting women, especially in this difficult period. Some of them, their businesses have closed because the purchasing power is not there but they need to continue to respond to the needs of their children.

“We call on other well-meaning stakeholders, to respond to the needs of rural women in very vulnerable states so that they can keep their children and prevent them the children from harm, prevent family separation, as well as making sure that in the end, we are keeping a future that creates an enabling environment for the development of not just the children, but also society.”

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Caroline Panglang, commended the gesture, saying, “We appreciate it. We don’t take it for granted, the Ministry is going to supervise this money to make sure that this money is utilized for the purpose which it is given.”

However, Sandra Chikan, the State Coordinator for the Child Protection Network, who said over 70,000 children will benefit from the gesture, added, “The support for the Child Protection Network is crucial. There is a pressing issue of child trafficking, baby factories, and child violations in Plateau State, necessitating the need for this funding.

“The grant will support initiatives in five local government areas: Bassa, Mangu, Jos South, Jos North, and Riyom, which have seen an increase in child abuse cases. The funding will enhance case management capabilities and provide training for members of the Child Protection Network, which consists of various organizations and ministries. Child protection is a collective responsibility, and community involvement is needed in safeguarding children’s rights.”

Meanwhile, Grace Nwadi, Vou Simon, and Da Stephen Gyang, the Village Head of Daholtong, Zawan, commended the initiative and promised to use the money to expand their businesses in poultry farming, cooking gas plant operations, and others.